The Institute for Appalachian Music and Culture is the newest addition to the Center for Appalachian Studies and Services. It was formed to highlight, preserve, and extend the rich and diverse music and cultural heritage of the unique Appalachian mountain region. The Institute encourages innovative research, scholarship, creative activity, and teaching that counters pervasive stereotypes about Appalachia, while revealing and celebrating the diverse cultures and musics of the region. The Institute also works to engage the University with communities in the region, stimulating the study and appreciation of Appalachian music and culture through fieldwork, public events, conferences, seminars, and other outreach programs, such as the annual String Band Summit.